Physics 1230: Light and Color

Instructor: Joseph Maclennan TOPIC 3 - Resonance and the Generation of Light

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys1230

How do we generate light? How do we detect light? Concept of resonance

In vacuum

distance speed = c = = = f time T

Static magnetic fields

Magnets generate magnetic fields that we can draw as field lines Magnetic field lines form continuous loops

Bar magnet

The Earth

Static electric fields

Positive and negative charges generate electric fields that we can draw as field lines Electric field lines from charges behave like stretched strings Electric fields generate static sparks: first radio transmissions

Positive charge

Negative charge
http://library.thinkquest.org/10796/ch12/ch12.htm

How do we generate a wave on a rope?

A) Drop one end B) Raise and lower one end quickly C) Drop both ends D) Twang it in the center

http://phet.colorado.edu/new/simulations/sims.php?sim=Wave_on_a_String

How do we generate EM waves?

How do we make waves in the electromagnetic field? Lets wiggle the charges... Light waves are disturbances in the electromagnetic field, a non-material physical entity whose equilibrium state is vacuum

Heinrich Hertz (1888)

http://phet.colorado.edu/new/simulations/sims.php?sim=Radio_Waves_and_Electromagnetic_Fields

Electromagnetic Wave Propagation

Electromagnetic waves can be generated by a variety of methods, such as a discharging spark or by an oscillating electrons in an atom or molecular. As the current oscillates up and down in the spark gap, at a characteristic circuit frequency, a magnetic field is created that oscillates in a horizontal plane. The changing magnetic field, in turn, induces an electric field so that a series of electrical and magnetic oscillations combine to produce a formation that propagates as an electromagnetic wave.

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/emwave/index.html

Sources of electromagnetic waves

So electrons moving up and down will emit electromagnetic waves because the electrons make an electric field, and the lines are wiggled when the electrons move What makes electrons move? 1. Heat 2. An oscillating electric field due to current changes (e.g. radio, TV, microwave oven) 3. Electrons in an excited atom (e.g. neon sign, or a fluorescent light) 4. Chemical excitation (e.g. firefly, phosphorescence)

Concept Quiz: How does your cell phone transmit your voice?

A) Generating sound waves B) Generating heat C) Generating electromagnetic waves (high frequency radio) D) Generating neural activity

How does your cell phone generate electromagnetic waves?

A) Heat B) Voltage in a circuit C) Excited atoms D) Neural activity/heat

Generating electromagnetic waves SOURCE Radio stations Microwaves Human body Cell phones Neon light Laser Warm stove MECHANISM Voltage in a circuit Voltage in a circuit Neural activity/heat Voltage in a circuit Excited atoms Excited atoms Heat

Sources of electromagnetic waves What are the frequencies of these sources? Radio stations Microwaves Human body Cell phones Neon light Laser Warm stove

Creating Light from Atoms

Electrons can absorb energy from external sources, such as lasers, arcdischarge lamps, and tungsten-halogen bulbs, and be promoted to higher energy levels. Light energy is absorbed by an electron to elevate it into a higher energy level and the energy can subsequently be released, in the form of a lower energy photon, when the electron falls back to the original ground state. The precise difference between the energy levels determines the resonance frequency or color of light that is emitted or absorbed.

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/fluorescence/exciteemit/index.html

Detecting Electromagnetic Waves Resonance

The emission and reception of electromagnetic waves is not equally efficient for all waves, but depends on the nature of the emitter and receptor. One phenomenon, called resonance, is responsible for this selectivity.

Resonance effects cause molecules to vibrate - for example in your eye. Light of certain frequency (wavelength) drives the molecules to vibrate, so that eventually a signal is transmitted to your brain via the optic nerve.

Detection of electromagnetic waves Resonance and Selectivity

Why do we see only certain colors? How does tuning of a radio signal work?

(State Route 16 spanning the Tacoma Narrows)

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

In 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge failed from windinduced torsional oscillations. Research of design flaws in the bridge led to the use of aerodynamic testing as a standard procedure in suspension span structural analysis.

Can you think of other examples of resonance?

Resonance
Every material (such as glass, steel, concrete) has a natural frequency at which it vibrates, called a resonant frequency. If you put energy into the substance at its resonant frequency, you will force it to vibrate or resonate (resonance is a forced vibration). In the case of the wine glass, your finger slides and sticks along the surface of the glass as you rub the rim (a wet fingertip has no oil and makes a better contact with the glass). The rubbing imparts energy to the glass molecules and causes them to resonate. The motion of your hand sets up a wave of vibration traveling through the glass. The vibrating glass causes air molecules to vibrate at the same frequency. The vibrating air molecules are the sound wave that you hear (the frequency or pitch of the sound wave is the same as the resonant frequency of the glass). So, how does the water change the pitch of the singing wine glass? As the resonant wave moves around the glass, it drags the water molecules with it, creating a wave of water that you can see near the edge of the glass. The dragging water molecules effectively increase the mass (both the water and the glass molecules) and reduce the energy of the wave traveling through the glass. When the energy is reduced, so is the frequency of the wave in the glass, which is reflected in the pitch of the sound wave that you hear. If you impart enough energy to the glass at its resonant frequency, you can cause the glass to shatter. However, this takes more energy than you can provide by rubbing the rim. Some singers can sing a note equal to the resonant frequency of a wine glass and cause it to shatter
http://static.howstuffworks.com/mpeg/wine.mpg

RESONANCE IN SOUND

If you look at a guitar string under a strobe light (or even a fluorescent light) you can see it that makes a standing wave. Another experiment you can do is to stand in the shower (they reflect sound well) and start singing while changing the pitch slowly. At certain pitches the sound will suddenly amplify, because the sound waves fit an even number of times between the walls.
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/microwaves/standing_wave2.html

Examples of Resonance

Guitar string - can be tuned by changing the tension

Electrical circuits in radios

Nerve cells in eye - sensitive to red, green and blue Chemical dyes

Using Resonance to Shatter a Wineglass

If a singer can match the natural frequency of the wine glass she can put more energy into the wine glass than it can handle. As the energy builds, the glass begins to deform beyond what its bonds can sustain. The trick is to sing with the right frequency and being able to sustain that note. It is not about singing loudly or horribly. It is also not possible for one note to shatter all glasses as each glass would have its own natural frequency.
http://www.blazelabs.com/pics/glass.mov http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7765557442856739526

Another Example of Resonance

Using Resonance to shatter a Kidney stone. By tuning ultrasound waves to the natural frequency of a kidney stone, we can rely on resonance to pulverize the stone

Concept Test on Resonance

You are swinging back and forth on a swing at the natural frequency. If a friend (or your cat) joins you on the swing, the new natural frequency will be: A. B. C. D. greater the same smaller zero - you wont be able to swing any more

Concept Test on Resonance

If you rub the rim of a wineglass you can make it sing. This is because: A. vibrations from your finger excite a resonant response in the glass B. you need to sing the same note to get the resonance C. the glass is a mechanical system in resonance D. the table top transmits a musical tone to the glass E. otherwise it would shatter

RESONANT ABSORPTION OF LIGHT - Photosynthesis

Green plants absorb water and carbon dioxide from the environment, and utilizing energy from the sun, turn these simple substances into glucose and oxygen. With glucose as a basic building block, plants synthesize a number of complex carbon-based biochemicals used to grow and sustain life. This process is termed photosynthesis, and is the cornerstone of life on Earth. In the applet, water molecules are converted to molecular hydrogen and oxygen as a result of photon absorption in the granum. Subsequently, the hydrogen molecules react with carbon dioxide in the stroma to produce oxygen and carbohydrates.

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/photosynthesis/index.html

Color of Plants- Photosynthesis

Chlorophylls absorb blue and red light and carotenoids absorb blue-green light, but green and yellow light are not effectively absorbed by photosynthetic pigments in plants; therefore, light of these colors is either reflected by leaves or passes through the leaves. This is why plants are green.
Examples of photosynthetic organisms: leaves from higher plants flanked by colonies of photosynthetic purple bacteria (left) and cyanobacteria (right).

http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/photointro.html

COLOR OF PLANTS - Photosynthesis

Chlorophylls absorb blue and red light and carotenoids absorb bluegreen light, but green and yellow light are not effectively absorbed by photosynthetic pigments in plants; therefore, light of these colors is either reflected by leaves or passes through the leaves. This is why plants are green.

Absorption spectrum of isolated chlorophyll and carotenoid species. The color associated with the various wavelengths is indicated above the graph.

http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/photointro.html

What we see

What is a resonance?
Many objects oscillate or vibrate at special frequencies called resonant frequencies or resonances When these objects are hit or "shaken" by an external agent at a frequency = to their resonant frequency they will oscillate at their resonant frequency.
Hand moving back and forth at same frequency as pendulums resonant frequency (or hit) Tacoma narrows bridge in the wind Car on a dirt road with regular bumps (washboard effect)

The oscillations of the object are largest when the "shaking" occurs at the objects resonant frequency.

We then say that a resonance has occurred e.g. girl on swing being pushed by her mother (mothers push frequency = swing frequency)

Energy is transferred from an external agent to the object during resonance.

Wineglass broken by an opera singers voice due to resonance between voice sound frequency and natural frequency of wineglass

Effect of resonance produced by military helicopter blade going around at frequency resonant with the helicopter body

What do resonances have to do with light?

When light is absorbed by atoms we can think of this as a resonance When light is emitted by atoms we can think of this as a resonance

The light frequency may match a certain frequency of resonant vibration in the atom. When this happens, the energy of the light is transferred to the atom and the light disappears. For example, we see light rays of 470 nm coming into our eyes because this light excites a resonance in certain atoms inside our eyes

For example when an electron hits an atom the atom can gain energy in the form of resonances. This energy in the atom can then be released by another resonant interaction in which light is emitted and the atom loses energy. Each color of light emitted corresponds to a particular atomic resonance.

Resonance and the Creation of Light

Absorption of light Emission of light